HOMESCHOOL SOCIALIZATION ISSUES by Dr. Dobson presented in Focus on the Family

According to Dr. Dobson, Ph.D the public has a misconception that removing a child from school means they are going to be confined to the house! He reports that homeschooling groups are expanding across the nation as more parents discover this option. These parents are forming highly organized support groups, offer field trips, tutoring services, social activities, academic teaching co-ops, athletic leagues and other activities.

Parents who choose to operate on their own have endless options once they are out of the school yard gate. They can have outings at the museums, parks, farms, factories, hospitals, music, special interest clubs. The possibilities are almost endless.

Homeschool children get exposure to the daily tasks of adults in the real world. Just going to the market teaches them invaluable lessons in pricing, fractions, reading labels, pints versus gallons and other subjects. Dr. Dobson writes that without the strictures of schedule and formal curricula, it can all be considered part of the educational process. Socialization at its best!

He further discusses the advantage of homeschooling in its protection to vulnerable children from the wrong kind of socialization. When children interact in large groups, the strongest and most aggressive kids quickly intimidate the weak and vulnerable.

He is convinced that bad things happen to immature and "different" boys and girls when they are thrown into the highly competitive world of other children. This is when they learn to fear their peers. These children often become peer dependent because of the bullying and teasing they learn at too early an age.

Research has proven that if those tender little, different boys and girls can be kept at home a few more years, and shielded from the impact of social pressure, they tend to be more confident, independent and often emerge later as leaders.

Dr. Dobson concludes his discussion by stating if acquainting these children with ridicule, rejection, physical threats and the rigors of the pecking order is necessary to "socialize" our children, he recommends we keep them unsocialized for a little longer.